A taste of the good life in Glacier National Park

- September 17, 2020

Getting a taste of nomad life for a week in Montana was exactly what I needed to spark excitement for the journey ahead and reassure me that I made the right decision to explore. I had the most amazing time at Glacier National Park that I'm actually still in awe as I write this a week later. I can't believe I waited this long to make this life change but the timing is more perfect than ever so - once again - everything seems to work out in the long run.

I'm not new to physical activity, adventures, adrenaline rushes, or testing my boundaries but I am new to hiking up mountains. Brand spank'n new. Let me just tell you, it's unlike anything I've ever experienced. Maybe it's because I'm from a small beach town, but the mountains have this majestic power of drawing me in. There's something so powerful about climbing up a mountain, looking down at where you started, and knowing that your own two feet and willpower got you there, one step at a time.

Here's a breakdown of our explorations:

Day 1:
Trail: Avalanche Lake - easy 5.7mi with 748ft elevation gain
This trail is very popular with little parking so get there early to beat the crowds. Its a pretty easy out and back path with an awesome end destination where you can have lunch, swim, or simply enjoy the mountains and waterfalls.
Food: Backslope Brewing - (Lunch) - Their Bistro Burger was awesome and their homemade garlic parmesan fries were to die for! This place was always busy whenever we drove by so we had to stop and scope it out. It's definitely a fan favorite and I highly recommend!

Day 2:

Trail: Huckleberry Mountain - hard 12mi with 2,772ft elevation gain
The views at the top should get this trail on your list. It was a persistent climb the whole way up but as soon as you reach the peak you forget about what it took to get there. There's a lookout ranger at the top who's a joy to talk to. Take an hour and have lunch, share stories, and re-energize for the trek down.
Food: Beargrass Bistro - (Dinner) - The winner of Diner's Choice 2020, this dinner spot reminded us of DC because the food was awesome and the we loved the exposed brick. We got the Cauliflowers Fritters, Elk Bolognese, Mac & Cheese, and Montana Beer Braised Boneless Short Rib. All were so good! Can't beat fresh homemade pasta and local ingredients

Day 3:
Trail: Hidden Lake Overlook - easy 3mi with 567ft elevation gain
We were a little beat up from our long hike the day before so we opted for a nice easy trail. We tried to do the full trail down to the lake but it was closed because of bear activity so we just went to the overlook and back. Our legs were thrilled that we couldn't do more. There was supposedly a moose on the shoreline but we couldn't see it without binoculars.
Food: Stone Hill Kitchen - (Dinner) - Another place that surprised us with tasty food! We got the Escargot, Arugula and Poached Egg Salad, Seared Scallops, and Roasted Cauliflower Risotto. As a New Englander, I was skeptical to get the scallops but the flavor pairing was so good. Their craft cocktails were also a big hit.

Day 4:
Trail: Granite Park - moderate 8mi with 2,608ft elevation gain
This was out favorite trail! It was more switchback style than the other trails and would level out often to make it a more enjoyable climb up. We watched the sun rise over the mountains and had lunch at the chalet at the top. We decided we want to come back and stay there because it has access to some fun trails and the views were, again, unreal.

Day 5:
Food: Farmhouse - (Brunch) - A sister restaurant to Beargass, Farmhouse was another hit for our departure brunch. They also specialize in using local ingredients which we love. Their huckleberry latte beats anything from Starbucks by a landslide. We also got the Fried Chicken Benny, Breakfast Sandwich, and Farmer's French Toast. We clearly like to eat and walked out fat and happy!

Montana was the calm in my current storm. A break from reality and yet the biggest reality slap in the face. You are the only one who knows what's right for you. I hope you have the courage to listen to your intuition and create the life you want. Along the way, you may even learn that a huckleberry is a real fruit, not just Mark Twain fiction.